As I think back to my early writing days I can remember a lot of authors who provided me with inspiration. James Thurber was perched high atop that list. There were a lot of parallels between him and I—we both were from Columbus, we both liked to write humor pieces and draw, and we both ranked spectacularly high on the nerd-o-meter. I also think I would have been better suited living in the Jazz Age, to be honest.
After finding out James was regularly published in The New Yorker magazine I became slightly obsessed with getting some of my work accepted as well. Beginning around 1995 I regularly submitted poetry and short stories but, sadly, they never bit. After several years of fruitless submissions a tangle of life’s twists and turns happened and I gave up on that dream.
After watching a CBS Sunday Morning clip on the magazine’s 100th anniversary a few days ago that dream of getting published in The New Yorker was reignited in a big way.
Yesterday, I decided to try my luck again and submitted a short story, six cartoons, and six poems. Take that New Yorker (please)! According to their website I should find out if my luck has changed around June or so. What a wonderful birthday present that would be. Wish me luck! I'll report back here when I find out one way or another.
My Book Nook
Even at fifty-three, I’m still amazed by how much there is to discover in this world. With endless information at our fingertips, you’d think there’d be no more surprises—but life always finds a way to prove otherwise.
My wife gifted me this book nook model kit from Rolife for Valentine’s Day. What an amazing gift it was.
There are, quite literally, thousands of pieces to this model. This makes IKEA furniture assembly look like child's play. After three days and probably a total of six hours of assembly I’m a little more than halfway done. It’s amazing how cathartic this work is and what a sense of accomplishment I have at the end of a building session. This project taps into something primal and male – building, working with your mind and hands, and seeing tangible progress at the end.
Plus, when this is done I’ll have a great accent piece for my office bookshelf. My good friend Romeo, jokingly, asked if I had planned on having my book-signings in there. I asked him what color of pill I need to take to shrink myself down that small. He said he wasn't quite sure. For those of you who don't know, this is all in reference to some ancient Jefferson Airplane lyrics. I guess I'd better go ask Alice.
Be well, make the most of this day. Thank you for reading!
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I love CBS Sunday morning. They usually have some really segments there. I missed it the past couple of Sundays, but I hope this all comes to fruition for you. That would be really cool to fulfill this dream! That is a pretty sweet model too. I can't wait to see it when it is finished.
I do too! I usually catch the segments that peak my interest on their YouTube channel. Streaming exclusively these past few years have watching regular television programming seem torturous.
Thank you! This is definitely one of those bucket list items for me. It's kind of a silly notion at this stage of my career but, in some ways, it feels more attainable now than it did then.
It was pretty overwhelming when I opened the box, TBH. There's wiring involved and everything, I completed that stage yesterday. It was such a thoughtful gift.
It definitely sounds quite in depth. I don't know if I would have the patience for it. It does seem that things are a bit more open these days in terms of people breaking through. In the past it felt like more of a closed club and now we have people creating content that the world can see from all walks of life.
I think the traditional literary world has definitely expanded their horizons and became less stuffy in past few decades. My short-story and poetry submissions were all "future-focused" so I'm hoping they appreciate that and see the value in it. The entire literary world used to feel like a club I would never be invited to. That's what drove me to self-publish.
That makes sense.
I've also tried submitting to various magazines and none has ever accepted. I hope you get lucky with the new Yorker this time and they accept your submissions. I wish you the best with your writing career.
Thank you! I encourage you to keep trying.
There is no age for learning mate as long as our brain functions ;)
Thank God.
Who wouldn't? Although I'm not sure central heating would be up to snuff, perhaps you were more advanced in the States.
Good luck with your submissions, that's exciting.
The book nook is gorgeous, the kind of thing I would have loved as a child.
There's a great film, Midnight in Paris that deals with this subject.
I think we humans tend to look back at different times and imagine they were better than they really were. We'd probably be wishing we had our mobile phones after about five hours. : )
Thank you!
Just watched the rhinoceros scene - hilarious!
Wow that is like a puzzle 🧩 but next level stuff! Being in marketing and knowing we are all building our brands here, I can see how exciting it is building that piece that is also part of your writing brand.
Love it!
Thanks! I'm amazed by how precise the book nook kit is. My nephew said you can buy the equipment to make these yourself for a few thousand dollars.
What a gorgeous gift Eric, very special! Have fun assembling, and don't forget to have a photo taken once you're finally seated in that red armchair. That's if the blue pill works;)
Good luck with your submissions!
Thank you! It was a very thoughtful gift. I'll definitely send a photo or post about it when it's all done. It'll probably be a week or so. I'm trying to source the pill now but I need to make sure I also have the antidote. : )
Haha, you'd better make sure of that Eric!
That's so cool! Best of luck with that submission! You're a great writer, so I'm sure it's a dream that will eventually become a reality <3 As for the book nook, looking good. Makes you wanna just crawl up inside for sure.
Thanks! I've noticed there's not that old familiar feeling of desperation this time. It would be wonderful to be published but I'll still be happy if they decide to pass. I can't believe how many different kits they have on their site. You just kind of lose yourself in the immense amount of details in them.
I once had the same New Yorker dream! Good luck to you, I would love to see your work there.
Cool book nook!
Thanks @owasco! You should try again too! It's so easy to submit to them now. I'm going to become a thorn in their sides, submitting as often as I can.: ) I have a pretty voluminous backlog of work.
Such a cool gift! Fingers crossed for your submission!
Thank you Rebecca!
What a beautiful gift, Eric! And I'm sure you're also going to get the news of acceptance of your work and that will also be another great gift!!! Maybe you can have tea with the rabbit if Alicia gives you the name of the pill. A hug and a nice Monday.
Thank you Nancy! My fingers are crossed. If I don't get accepted this time I'll just keep submitting. Haha, I wonder what kind of tea the rabbit likes? I'll have to be prepared for his visit. I hope you're having a good start to the week. It still feels like Antartica here....-18 last night.
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